Free Quilt Block Pattern of Thistle Quilt Block

The Thistle quilt block was another of my ideas to use in a Scottish themed quilt.

There are other more complex thistle quilt block designs around, but I wanted to keep this simple.

This is a 9 patch block made using squares and triangles only and these directions are for a 6" patchwork block.

For each block you will need:

Purple:  1 square of 2.1/2"
White:   2 squares of 2.1/2",  2 squares of 2.3/4"
Green:   2 squares of 2.1/2",  2 squares of 2.3/4"


Place 1 each of the 2.3/4" squares in white and in green with right sides together and mark a line down the diagonal.  It doesn't matter what you use - the line won't show.
Sew a 1/4" seam either side of the line and cut along the line.

The 2 pieces will now open out into 2 squares, each made of a triangle of each fabric. 
Repeat the process with the second 2.3/4" squares of white and green.
These squares should now measure 2.1/4", same as the remaining squares. 
They are cut bigger to start with to allow for the seam down the middle where the triangles join.


Lay the thistle patchwork pieces out as shown:
1st row:  purple, white, mixed
2nd row: white, green, mixed
3rd row:  mixed, mixed, green

Check against the photo that you have the mixed squares placed the right way.

Sew rows 1 and 2 together, matching the seams, then add row 3.









When 4 of these thistle patchwork quilt blocks are combined, all sorts of interesting secondary patterns appear depending on which way you have the thistles facing.


I used the thistle quilt block in the Scottish themed quilt.  Click on Scottish quilt to read more.






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